All,
I work for one of the largest cable MSO's, and can tell you why things like this happen. There are a couple of things that could be happening here, but first let me explain how the operation works just a bit.
The network companies charge Cable/Sattelite companies to carry their programming. Usually this charge is per customer base. This is kind of the short answer.
Most network companies are a part of a bigger company that "bundles" its channels to the Cable/Sattelite companies. For instance Discovery actually owns the Travel channel along with the various Discovery channels and so forth. This is why you get X amount of channels for X pricing through cable companies, and Sattelite companies. It would be very expensive to get to buy only the channels you wanted..
So back on subject. So lets say Discovery charges the Service providers $1.00 per subscriber, you can see the millions it would make off that service. This $1.00 gives the provider access to all channels "bundled" together. Even the bad ones.
So now we know how it works, this is what is happening in your area, and all over.. Discovery notices that the Travel channel is being watched by more and more each year, then realizes that people will pay more to watch it, so Discovery raises its prices to the providers, who in turn have to raise the price to consumers. Thus, causing consumers to either pay, or cancel certain services, as far as channels are concerned.
Discovery is not the most expensive either. As a provider we pay ESPN in the nieghborhood of $7-$8 per subscriber!
If you did try the Dish, it may seem cheaper in the short term, but it will be, in effect, the same price in the long run, because networks do not discriminate when it comes to the almighty dollar!
